Free Online Nursing Courses & Continuing Education

Updated on 9/23/2025

If you're a registered nurse (RN), then you may be wondering about how to fulfill the continuing education (CE) requirements for your career. Specifically, you're wondering if there are any free online nursing programs or courses that can help you maintain your nursing license.

Keep reading as we explore some top options available online. We'll talk about why continuing education is important for nurses and answer various questions you may be wondering about.

Are There Free Online Nursing Courses?

Yes, many websites and online platforms offer free online nursing courses. Many of these are for informational purposes only, targeting learners interested in learning more about the nursing profession. Many others are specifically designed as continuing education courses for current nurses.

We will discuss both types of courses a little later in this article, as they can be beneficial for learning more about nursing and healthcare in general.

Why Continuing Education Matters for Nurses

All nurses must participate in continuing education to maintain licensure. State and national regulations require nurses to renew their licenses every two years, and they must have completed a specific number of continuing education units (CEUs) within that time period.

Free nursing CEUs can also help nurses stay up-to-date on advances in the medical field, and specific courses may be required by certain employers. It's important that RNs and other nursing professionals stay on top of the continuing education requirements they are subject to in their specific states and healthcare settings.

Free Continuing Education for Nurses

If you're ready to begin the CE process, keep reading. Below, we'll explore some top online nursing education platforms and list some of the free continuing education courses they offer.

1. Nurse.com Courses

Nurse.com offers a range of resources for nurses, such as information on state licensing requirements and certification test prep materials. It also provides numerous free CE courses, such as:

• The NIH Stroke Scale
• Pediatrics: Developmental Milestones
• Managing Psychiatric Emergencies in the ED

The courses provide varying numbers of contact hours and build upon nursing fundamentals in various specialties. They are commonly accepted as continuing education for licensing purposes.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: 0.25 to 1.5 contact hours

2. Nursing CE Courses

NursingCE.com is a site devoted to providing continuing education resources for nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. The site currently offers two free continuing education courses:

• Mentorship Nursing
• Nursing Evidence-Based Practice

The courses are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and students receive certificates of completion after passing the post-tests. Nurses are encouraged to check back on the website often, as more free courses will be added over time.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: One ANCC contact hour

3. Wild Iris Medical Education Courses

Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc. is an organization with a wealth of CE resources available on its website. It currently offers three free courses, as follows:

• COVID-19: The Impact of a Pandemic on Mental Health
• Sexual Harassment Training Course
• Respiratory Viruses: 2024-2025 Vaccine Update

The organization's courses are ANCC-accredited and accepted by state nursing boards throughout the country. Enrolling in the courses mentioned enables students to gain valuable CE credits completely free of charge.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: One contact hour

4. American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Courses

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) is a professional organization providing education, certification, and other resources relative to critical care nursing. It offers various CE courses and activities, such as:

• Pregnant Patients in Critical Care
• Implementing Staffing Standards in Adult Critical Care
• Ambulation Protocol for ECMO Patients

Students can take these courses for free for a limited time when they sign up for a free account on the AACN website. Beyond this initial window, students will have to pay to take courses; however, due to the high quality of the courses available, many students find that they are worth the prices.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Varies

5. Elite Learning Courses

Elite Learning is a website affiliated with Colibri Health and packed to the hilt with CE resources for various healthcare professionals. Some of the free nursing courses include:

• Culture and Pain Management
• Cognitive Screening for Dementia
• Effects of Aging on Communication

These courses are generally available in the form of webinars. Though the courses come from outside providers and typically have fees, students can complete them for free through a membership with Elite Learning.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: One to four clock hours

6. MyCME Courses

MyCME.com provides training and resources for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals. Some of its free online courses for nurses include:

• Clinical Crossroads: Personalized Management in EoE
• The Role of Novel Methylphenidate in Treating ADHD
• Resistant Hypertension: New Avenues for New Treatments

Courses may be delivered in various forms, including video, audio, webinar, case study, interactive, or conference. Students have a wide variety of advanced courses to choose from, allowing them to learn about particular interests as they meet licensure requirements.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: .25 to 2.50 contact hours

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Courses

The CDC and NIOSH have partnered to create CE courses for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Two of the courses available are titled as follows:

• Workplace Violence Prevention
• Training for Nurses and Shift Work and Long Work Hours

These courses are available on the CDC website and provide official contact hours for nurses looking to complete state licensure requirements.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: 1.25 to 3.0 contact hours

8. CDC Train Courses

In addition to the official courses found on the CDC website, the CDC provides hundreds of informational and continuing education courses online through Train.org. These are known as CDC Train courses, and examples of what's available include:

• Hepatitis C: Epidemiology and Natural History
• Managing Pain Without Opioids
• A Clinician's Role in Overdose Prevention

Many of these courses are approved by professional organizations, such as the ANCC, and accepted by state nursing boards. They are typically self-paced, though some may feature live online sessions or segments.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Varies

9. edX Courses

The online learning platform edX hosts courses on many different topics from various sources, such as colleges and professional organizations. Some of the nursing courses available include:

• Essential Competencies for Nurse Preceptors
• Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Awareness for Nurses
• Global Public Health

These courses are typically used for information purposes only, though some organizations may recognize some of them as continuing education. Students hoping for a certificate must pay to complete each course; however, those who want to study for free can opt to audit the course instead of earning a certificate.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Varies

10. Alison Courses

Alison is well-known worldwide for providing an infinite database of free online courses on every subject imaginable. Some of the nursing courses include:

• Palliative Care Nursing
• Nursing Studies - Patient Care and Hygiene
• Nursing and the Elderly

Again, most of these courses are completed for informational purposes rather than continuing education credits; however, some lead to certificates or diplomas and may be accepted as continuing education in some settings.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Varies

How We Rank Courses

We strive to choose the best educational options when creating our course lists. We used the following criteria to select the courses featured above:

• Cost: All of the courses featured can be completed for free.
• Course value: Each course provides high-quality instruction on various nursing topics, and many of them are accredited as continuing education courses by top nursing organizations.
• Flexibility: The courses are all available online and can be completed in a flexible, self-paced format.

How To Earn Free CE Credits Online

Not all online nursing courses lead to continuing education credit. To make sure the courses you take count as CE, follow these steps:

Verify Which CE Courses Are Approved

Check with your state board of nursing to make sure any courses you are planning to take will count as continuing education in your state. Courses that are accredited and approved by professional organizations are usually okay, but it doesn't hurt to make sure.

Complete the Online Course Modules

Once you've chosen a course, you should be able to enroll online and begin your studies immediately. Work through the online course modules in a quiet place away from distractions to ensure you learn what you are studying.

Take the Post-Test (If Required)

Some CE courses culminate in tests to see how well you absorbed the course material; others do not. If your course requires you to take a test at the end, ensure you are prepared for the test by taking notes and paying attention throughout the course.

Receive Your CE Certificate

Upon completing the course and passing any required tests, you will likely receive a certificate of completion. Each course should be assigned a specific number of clock hours or contact hours; document the number of hours you received so you know how many more you'll have to complete to meet license renewal regulations in your state.

FAQs About Free Nursing Courses Online

If you still have questions about online professional development courses for nurses, read on. Below, we'll provide answers to some frequently asked questions.

Are There Any 3-Month Nursing Courses Online?

Future nurses interested in learning more about the profession may be able to find self-paced courses they can complete within three months. Additionally, current nurses may be able to complete some online certificate programs within three months to pursue specific nursing career paths. However, there are no full training courses to help nursing students pursue initial licensure within three months. Learners will need at least an associate degree in nursing to begin their careers.

Are There Any 6-Month Nursing Courses Online?

Again, some informational courses or certificate programs online may boast six-month completion times; however, these courses cannot be used to qualify you for your initial nursing license. They are for informational or continuing education purposes only.

Do Free Nursing Courses Count Toward License Renewal?

Many free nursing courses can be used to help nurses renew their licenses. However, other courses are only available for information. It is important to ensure your state's nursing board accepts any course you plan to take as continuing education credit.

How Many CE Hours Do Nurses Need Each Year?

Many states require between 10 and 15 CE hours, though this number can vary from state to state. For example, states like California and Georgia require 30 contact hours of CE to renew a license. On the other hand, Oklahoma requires 24, Vermont requires 20, and Tennessee requires only five.

You can spread the required courses out over your two-year renewal period or complete the requirements all at once when it comes time to renew. Though it's difficult to find free 3-hour nursing CEUs requiring no test online, some convenient ''renewal packages'' are available for small fees from platforms like Nurse.com.

Discover Online Nursing Education

Whether you're interested in free nursing school or just need to take a few courses, explore the resources here at Learn.org. Contact any of the schools featured here to learn more about their nursing programs and to find the options that work best for you.